Here at Oat Cosmetics we pride ourselves on being environmentally conscious. As well as producing natural ingredients through sustainable farming practices with short-term supply logistics, we’re focusing on the simple changes we can make elsewhere to reduce our plastic footprint. Given our commitment to sustainability, we want to address the topic currently on the tip of every tongue – pollution. More specifically, we want to discuss our solutions to the global plastic problem.
The Problem with Plastic
In recent years, plastic use and the resulting pollution has been thrust into the spotlight, and to say it’s not good news is most certainly an understatement. Of the total amount of plastic produced to date, around 80% of it has ended up in landfill or the natural environment[1], with this plastic taking upwards of 450 years to degrade[2]. Concern regarding plastic’s impact on the environment is particularly focussed on the irreparable damage caused to marine life. With the eight million tonnes of plastic dumped into our oceans every year currently affecting over 700 marine species[3][2], it’s clear to see that plastic use has spiralled out of control.
Like many others, the beauty industry has not managed to avoid press regarding its contribution to the problem, with microbeads, cotton buds and wet wipes all coming under fire. In June 2018, a national ban on the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic and personal care products was put into action following years of speculation on the matter. Alarmingly, it was thought that up to 100,000 plastic particles were being flushed into our oceans as a result of a single shower[4].
Our Solutions: Innovative Product Development and Recent Changes
In September 2018 we launched Oat BioBeads, a natural, biodegradable microbead made with Oat COM, our colloidal oatmeal: providing an innovative solution to the global plastic crisis. Oat BioBeads combine the redness reducing and skin soothing benefits of the oat active with the spherical profile of a bead, all delivered in a sustainable manner.
In addition to the research and development of a biodegradable microbead alternative, we’re taking steps to reduce our company’s day-to-day plastic footprint. Recently we made a big change to our technical data sheets and other marketing literature, switching from plastic-coated gloss paper to a plastic-free, matte alternative. We believe that simple actions such as these will, when combined with a global effort, change the current societal norms of plastic use and give our planet a much-needed break from unnecessary plastic consumption.
Leave us a comment below and let us know about the measures your taking to reduce your plastic impact as a business so that we can be sure to consider every viable step.
Sources
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42264788
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plastic-facts/
- https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/plastics-why-we-must-act-now?&pc=ASF001002&gclid=CjwKCAiAlvnfBRA1EiwAVOEgfARr55txVMiEblqV8e_3X9-LH_sVul2kamPjOFGkkuQJppYeI2MGVxoCzcQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-microbeads-ban-comes-into-force
